Taylor Diehl, Freshman
1 in every 4 Americans struggles with mental health, not knowing how to let their voices be heard. May is dedicated to ending the silence and raising awareness of these significant issues. Mental illness is a dysfunction of the brain or an imbalance that leads to uncontrollable changes in emotions, thinking, or behavior. Collectively, these can lead to distress and further emotional trauma. 26% of American adults struggle with emotional expression or feel invalidated when trying to seek help. There are over 200 different types of mental illnesses that affect millions of Americans.
6.8 million Americans struggle with anxiety, which is a constant feeling of stress and uneasiness. Anxiety is a disorder that leaves people with a constant feeling of nervousness, and a plethora of many other emotions. This abundance of emotions can lead people into a state of panic, more commonly known as panic attacks. Many people struggle with being open, leading many to not know how to properly cope with what they are feeling. When experiencing anxiety, some ways to calm yourself down are experimenting with different breathing exercises. When focusing on your breathing, you are tricking your sympathetic nervous system, which controls your flight or fight response. Exhaling is linked to the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help relax and calm down your body. Along with breathing exercises, yoga is another great way to help calm your body down! Yoga is a simple meditation method that allows you to focus on yourself and your breathing patterns.
Suicide is the tenth main cause of death in the United States. In 2019 alone, over 47,511 people lost their lives to this battle, while around 1.38 million people attempted. Depression is a mental disorder characterized by feelings of guilt, loneliness, and much more. These constant feelings lead to a lack of motivation, lack of energy, and appetite. Many victims struggling with this often feel like they can not express their feelings. These feelings lead many people to seclude themselves from their problems in hope that they will get better. If you are feeling alone, 800-273-8255 is a 24-hour hotline that you can call and remain anonymous to seek professional help! The best thing you can do is support others you know are struggling. Many times people feel they are unable to talk about what they are truly feeling. Helping others admit to what they are feeling when they are ready is an important part of mental recovery. Keep in mind that you are never alone!
May is meant to create an open mindset on mental health and show people that what they are facing is normal! Although times may be hard and uncertain, you are not alone in your struggles, and people will always be here to support you through it! If you or anyone you know needs help call 800-273-8255, it is a 24-hour hotline dedicated to helping those in need!
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